A new brand for Houston

“We’ve probably spent in excess of $75 million in the past 30 years on image campaigns, and we keep coming back and saying, ‘Well, that didn’t work.'” – Former GHCVB CEO Jordy Tollett in the Houston Business Journal

It attracts new residents, especially highly talented and educated ones.

It attracts expanding businesses.

It inspires the citizens and creates a local identity.

But it’s very hard to come up with a single brand that does all four. Even some of the most successful brands don’t necessarily hit them all. Two of the most famous city brands are New York’s “I {heart} NY” and Las Vegas’ “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” And in Texas we’re all familiar with “Keep Austin Weird.” In this case, I think I’ve stumbled upon something that can work across all four.

Before I reveal it, I need everybody to drop their cynicism shields. I don’t think the most successful city brand in history, “I {heart} NY” could get off the ground today with our snarky cynical culture. Just like new songs, sometimes ideas need time to grow on you. So open up your mind, hold back judgment, and let me reveal some context-setting definitions and the brand first followed by the supporting reasons.

Hospitality – Noun: The friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.

Hospitable – Adjective: 1) Friendly and welcoming to strangers or guests. 2) (of an environment) Pleasant and favorable for living in.

It started with me thinking of “Houston Hospitality”, but then the symmetry jumped out at me it became

.

Houspitality

What the “Aloha Spirit” is to Hawaii, the “Houspitality Spirit” can be to Houston.

.

Here are some of the key words and phrases people often use when describing Houston and how they fit:

Houspitality for visitors and newcomers: welcoming culture to outsiders, friendliness, hospitality (duh), openness to people from all over the world (diversity), amazing restaurants, museums, arts, and other amenities

Houspitality for businesses: business-friendly taxes and regulation (including no zoning), culture supportive of entrepreneurship, open business culture

Fits well with the Texas Medical Center helping people from all over the world (and the word “hospital” is right there). It also fits well with the airports, port, GHCVB, GHP, and others.

It differentiates us from other big cities (ever heard anybody talk about the friendly reputations of NYC, DC, Chicago, SF, or LA? I didn’t think so) as well as tourist destination cities (which tend to become jaded towards visitors).

I remember thinking, am I going to have to change? Am I going to have to learn how to write Texan?

I didn’t change anything. That’s part of what makes Houston cool. You can come here and stay yourself and fit right in.

…

Houston is cool because whoever or whatever you are, you’re welcome here. The first two years I lived here, I was burning out the copy machine at Kinko’s applying for jobs anywhere else. Now I wouldn’t leave here for anything. …

Where better to get better?

When a congresswoman got her head half blown off, she came to Houston to get better. When Middle East oil sheiks need surgery, they come to Houston. We have the best medical facilities in the world. I didn’t think that was cool until I was run over by a lunatic in a van and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

I still have no idea what hospital I was taken to. But they fixed me up. That was cool.

…

We’re in this together

And please stop talking about Houston’s “diversity.” The only thing the word “diversity” does is separate people. Sure, we have ethnic neighborhoods; those are good for a city. It helps in picking a restaurant.

I’ve never seen a city where people blend more gracefully than Houston.

…

Houston is cool

I thought it was pretty cool when Houston welcomed Hurricane Katrina victims to ride out the storm’s aftermath here. I spent a couple of days in the Astrodome, handing out supplies and clothes to Katrina refugees. I learned a lot about Houston after Katrina. The experience changed me, too.